Guinea-Bissau Leader Pereira Named Coup Suspect
LISBON, Portugal — Guinea-Bissau’s chief opposition figure, Domingos Simões Pereira, has been officially named a suspect in an alleged October 2025 coup attempt, escalating a period of intense political instability in the West African nation.
Pereira, the president of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), was ordered to appear before the Higher Military Court on Thursday, June 4. The judicial order, reviewed by Lusa news agency, accuses Pereira of “complicity in crimes against state security” and an “attempt against the Head of State.”
Allegations of Financial and Logistical Support
Prosecutors allege that Pereira provided “material, financial, and logistical support” to military officers involved in the failed plot on October 25, 2025. The court claims the opposition leader provided funds for the operation and allowed his private residence to be used for planning meetings.
The case is linked to the arrest of high-ranking officers, including Brigadier-General Dabana Na Walna, who was accused of stockpiling weapons and tactical gear under the guise of training exercises to facilitate the takeover.
A Tightening Grip on Dissidents
The summons is the latest blow to Pereira, who has faced consistent state pressure. He was previously detained for two months following a successful military coup in November 2025—a separate event that interrupted general elections and ousted then-President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. Though official election results were never released, the opposition had claimed a decisive victory.
Rute Monteiro, a jurist and Pereira’s former chief of staff, lambasted the court’s decision as legal “engineering.” She told Lusa that the allegations are based on testimony obtained through torture and noted that a previous panel of judges found no evidence linking Pereira to the plot. Those judges, she claims, were subsequently removed and replaced.
“This is a flagrant violation of legal principles,” Monteiro said. “He is being persecuted because the people are with him. He was one of the few party leaders who did not allow himself to be bought.”
Legal and Jurisdictional Disputes
The defense argues the Higher Military Court has no jurisdiction to try Pereira, as he is a civilian. Furthermore, Monteiro maintains that Pereira still holds parliamentary immunity as the president of the National People’s Assembly. While former President Embaló moved to dissolve the parliament in 2023, the opposition maintains the legitimacy of the body in the absence of constitutional elections.
Pereira currently remains under house arrest, a status Monteiro notes does not technically exist under Guinea-Bissau’s legal code. The PAIGC and its leader were barred from participating in the 2025 elections by a judicial decree, marking a historic exclusion for the country’s foundational political party.
Note: General reporting from Guinea-Bissau remains restricted after the government suspended several international media outlets, including the Lusa news agency, earlier this year.
Image: Pexels – Supun D Hewage
